I’ve often thought it’s more than half actually. Believing you can win is always a priority in being successful.

The Winder-Barrow High School baseball progam has been doing a good bit of winning in recent seasons. The Diamond Doggs, under the direction of coach Brian Smith, are a consistent playoff contender and qualifier. This season is turning out to be no exception.

ast Friday, WBHS made it known it isn’t simply satisfied with qualifying for the playoffs. The top four teams from Region 8-AAAAA will advance, but with Friday’s 2-1 victory against defending state champion Loganville, the Bulldoggs remained in contention for a region crown.

Friday’s game had all the drama a high school baseball fan could want and take. Travis Demeritte worked seven innings in helping WBHS earn a season split with the Red Devils. It was the first loss in region play for LHS, who entered the game rightfully ranked No. 1 in the state.

The win by Smith’s club showed how much the players are able to concentrate on each game. After losing to Loganville 7-3 Wednesday, many probably believed the Bulldoggs were perhaps a notch below the defending state champs. However, Smith’s motto of taking it “one game at a time” worked to perfection Friday.

With the second game of the season against LHS tied at 1-1, Demeritte started the top of the sixth by being hit by a pitch. He would eventually score on a line drive hit by Patrick Overstreet.

In the bottom of the seventh, Demeritte struck out Clint Frazier, who will be selected early in the upcoming Major League Baseball draft, in the bottom of the seventh to help preserve the win. Frazier, who sent one out of the park earlier in the contest, had compiled 10 home runs going into this week’s play.

Winder-Barrow was 13-3 overall and 8-2 in Region 8-AAAAA. With wins against Loganville and Gainesville, the Bulldoggs remain in prime contention to host a state playoff series as well as perhaps finishing as region champ.

Three region series remain. The Bulldoggs were set to meet Flowery Branch the first part of this week and will then face Apalachee High School, who is also battling for a postseason berth. WBHS will close out the 8-AAAAA portion of its schedule with a series against Salem April 17 and 19.

“This group of players has always come ready to work each day at practice and ready to perform their best in each game,” Smith said. “It’s a credit to their work ethic. They know we have high expectations and want to continue our past success.”

With the players’ attitude and Smith’s leadership, the sky is truly the limit this spring.

Chris Bridges is sports editor of the Barrow Journal. Send comments about this column to cbridges@barrowjournal.com.

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